Eross Opens Up About Not Appearing on Podcasts, Chooses Radio for Sheila On 7

Eross Candra reiterates the reason Sheila On 7 does not choose the podcast route to introduce their latest work. When releasing the single Sederhana, the trio Duta, Eross, and Adam returned to tour several radio stations in Yogyakarta and Jakarta as the main medium of promotion.

"Then there was one radio that initiated playing the song 'Dan', which then went viral, in today's terms it became viral, and other radios followed suit," said Eross Candra when greeted in the Thamrin area, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (4/8/2026).

For Eross, radio has played a role since the beginning of their career journey, so the decision to reconnect with listeners through radio broadcasts remains consistent to this day.

1. Radio Remains a Reliable Promotion for Sheila On 7

Sheila on 7 at the KLBB Stage © KapanLagi.com/Budy Santoso

In the release of Sederhana, Sheila On 7 chose to tour several radio stations in Yogyakarta and Jakarta to introduce the song. This step aligns with their habit of not utilizing podcasts as a promotional medium.

Eross emphasized that his band owes a debt of gratitude to the radio, which has opened doors and provided space for their songs to be played for listeners since the beginning.

"At that time, our label, Sony Music, was confused, 'Hey, we haven't given them anything for the second single yet, but why are they already taking the initiative?'," Eross added.

2. The Story of 'Dan' Soaring Through Radio Play

Eross plays guitar on the KLBB stage © KapanLagi.com/Budy Santoso

Eross reminisced that the decision of one radio station to play Dan became an important turning point. This choice prompted other radios to follow suit, leading to the song being heard more frequently.

"Why could they choose the song 'Dan'? So the song 'Dan' became a single because it was chosen by one radio. That’s it, that’s what made us feel like we caught a big wave and we just surfed it. Thank you, radio," he said.

The repeated airplay made Dan widely known to the public. Eross considered that moment to be a significant boost in the early journey of Sheila On 7.

3. Reasons Eross Doesn't Choose the Podcast Route

In the midst of the podcast boom, Eross views the platform as more suitable for younger musicians. He mentioned that he doesn't want to compete for the spotlight with the new generation and prefers to stay on the channel that has supported his band from the beginning.

"So if podcasts are probably more for the generation below us, they will be able to discover what a big wave is from there. If we’re like, 'Okay, I don’t want to compete for the spotlight with the young ones either,'" Eross said.

Eross also revealed that he often receives invitations to be a guest on podcasts. However, he admitted that he is not interested yet because talking for a long time in front of the camera is not something that makes him comfortable.

"Yeah, usually, 'Maybe later when I want to talk a lot after one season, I will definitely come.' Because talking a lot is just too much of a PR for me," he explained jokingly.

4. Long-standing Relationship with Radio Since Indie Days

The closeness of Sheila On 7 with radio has been established since they were still an indie band in Yogyakarta. Their songs were played by local radio even before signing a contract with a national record label.

"Before Sheila on 7 was pulled to a major label, we were still in the local scope, just in Jogja, and those songs were played by the radio when we were still indie. We didn't have a label yet, we were still indie, still in high school," concluded Eross.

This closeness since high school became part of their early experiences, which continued as Sheila On 7's works were broadcast more widely through radio transmissions.

(kpl/far/phi)